P.O. Box 369
Mount Ida, AR 71957
phone: 870-867-3521
Hours: 8.30 am- 4.30 pm.
They will do limited lookups and will make copies from the archives for $1.00
per item. Make
the check out to Montgomery County clerk, an include a long self-addressed, stamped
envelope.

They typically include three documents -- a Declaration of
Intention to become a citizen, Petition for Naturalization and Naturalization
Certificate. Until 1983, the County Clerk, as Clerk of the Court, kept records
pertaining to all individuals who applied for and were granted United States
citizenship. The records are a valuable source of information about our
ancestors. These unique documents are found only in the County Clerk's office
and are an irreplaceable treasure. It was not until the law enacted on June
29, 1906 that biographical data of the applicant and the applicant's spouse
and children were required. website
withinfo.
more info.

Prior to 1906, an immigrant in the U.S. might have applied to a court
(city, county, state or federal) to become a U.S. citizen, the court record was the only
record of naturalization. The Immigration Act of June 29 1906, created the Federal
Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (now part of the INS) and issued the forms, found
at the courthouse and a second copy was sent to the Bureau.
Naturalization records
1907-1913 at the Montgomery County Courthouse are scattered amongst three thin black
ledger size books:
Antiono Salmon Carroam b. Mazrkaheel Shouff,
Syria 12 Oct. 1888
David Hope - Wales , age 33 in 191,
NA 1898
James Johnston - UK
Joseph Muzek - Pilsen, Bohemia, Austria. b. 7
Feb. 1875, age 25 in 1910, German, NA 1889, farmer [Murik]
Jospeh David Newman - Hungary-Magyar,
age 35 in 1910, optician in Womble, NA 1892
Juha Suauew b. Warsaw 26 Aug. 1855
James Whitehouse - Nova Scotia, Canada,
age 61 in 1910

There were reportedly three residents of foreign births in
the 1850s, all of whom were from Great Britain.
In the 1870 census for Montgomery County, AR, there were only
five residents classified as foreign.

1900 - 17 foreign born
The information gathered by enumerators for the 1900 census, was organized
by columns.
The Citizenship questions:
14. What was the person's father's place of birth?
15. What was the person's mother's place of birth?
16. What year did the person immigrate to the United States?
17. How many years has the person been in the United States?
18. Is the person naturalized?
For an alien or naturalized citizen:
year of immigration to the US
number of years in the US
whether still an alien
having applied for citizenship, or naturalized (A or AL - Alien; NA -
Naturalized; NR - Not Reported; PA - First Papers Filed)

There was one native Englishman who had a homestead near Mount Gilead Church
in the 1930s.
Moses and Isaac Burgauer came to Arkansas from Germany in the 1850s and
settled at Mt Ida.
Burgauer, Isaac �Ike� Private�Enlisted in Co. F, 3rd Arkansas Infantry, at
Rockport, Arkansas, June 20, 1861; promoted fifth sergeant, January 1862;
promoted second lieutenant, May 1863; wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,
July 2, 1863; died of
wounds, July 1863; born in Germany, c1837; listed in Hot Spring county
1860 census; occupation merchant.
In 2000, in Montgomery County, AR Foreign born persons, 2.0% , in Arkansas
2.8%

Foreign-born population of the United States increased from 2.2 million
to 14.2 million between 1850 and 1930. The 1900 census was the first to note how long an
immigrant had been in the US and whether that person was naturalized. If you have an
immigrant ancestor try searching. e.g.
Arthur, Alfred, Ida, Reinhold Wenzig all came out from Germany in 1887 and settled near Silver in
1904, Passenger and Immigration Lists: Germans to America, 1850-1888 go to the ShipsList and join for one day and ask
kindly for a lookup from the CD. With the name of the vessel and arrival date request for
search at the National Archives for the actual passenger list page on NATF Form 81.
Ship Passenger Arrival
Records. Obtain the NATF Form 81 by providing your name and mailing address inquire@nara.gov. Be sure to specify "Form
81" and the number of forms you need. The fee is $10, payable only when the requested
records are found. Film #

Rienhardt N. Wenzig was born 4 Jan 1848 in Germany, he came over to NY about
1880 and later sent for his family c. 1881. Ida, a Doctor, his wife, died in
NY about 1898.
Arthur b. before 1873
Alfred b. Sept 1874, Bresula, Germany. Now Poland.
Reinhold b. Nov 1875.|

Arkansas Department of Health has records of events reported.
Marriage records starting from 1917
Divorce from 1923
Birth and death from February 1914 (earlier in
the cities of Fort Smith and Little Rock)

Available on fiche: Arkansas Death Index 1914-1923 (In
alphabetical order, shows name, county of death, date, volume and certificate number) and
1934-1940
(alpha order and shows date of death and county) Try major public libraries.
Arkansas Death Record Index
compiled by Desmond Walls Allen.

has on fiche records from the Arkansas Department of Health.
Death Indexes: 1914-1947
Marriage Index: 1933-1939 Indexed by grooms name only.
Divorce Index: 1923-1927 1934-1939
Social Security Master Death Index for Arkansas on microfilm. Alphabetical index with all
Arkansas related deaths of Social Security Card holders c. 1950- 1991. Montgomery Co. (No.
75) records on microfilm at the AHC may have more marriage records.

Social Security Master Death IndexGuide
2071 records for citizens last residence Montgomery Co. AR.
277 records for last benefit payment Montgomery Co. AR.State of
Issuance codes AR 429-432SSA history
The index only covers deaths since about 1962. File has an estimated 3% error rate. ZIP
codes for where the death payment was sent. In 1981 the $255 death payment was restricted
to spouses and dependent children only. Why a person might not be in the SSDI:
-Person might not have had a SS#.
-Information might have been reported incorrectly.
-SSA not have been notified of the person's death.
-Person might have changed his or her name or used a different spelling.
-If a person worked for a railroad after 1936 he might have qualified for a pension from
the Railroad Retirement Board in lieu of
Social Security. Most of the RR employee's SS numbers begin with the digits 700 through
729. Researchers can write to: Railroad Retirement Board, 844 Rush Street, Chicago, IL
60611.
-SSA did not begin computerizing death claims until 1962

Under the Freedom of Information Act you may request a copy of the
original application form for a Social Security number (Form SS-5) for an individual that
is dead. On this form there is name, mailing address, age, date of birth,
father's full name regardless of whether living or dead, business name or employer, place
of birth, mother's full name before married regardless of whether living or dead, and
signature.

To request SS-5 form, you do not need to fill out a special form.
A letter with the details of the individual in question is acceptable, try to include the
SS number but it is not necessary and mention the Freedom of Information Act entitles you
to this information.
Social Security Administration
Freedom of Information Officer
4-H-8 Annex Building
6401 Security Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21235

Check the Arkansas Death Index
"Finding death dates prior to 1914 maybe a challenge in Arkansas. Many times
when a person died, they were literally buried in the back yard or family cemetery and
many of the family cemeteries were forgotten about. Plus, when you factor in the
income some of these farmers had, placing a stone on Grandma's grave was not a priority.
Obits are wonderful sources for deaths prior to 1914. If you know the area,
you might be surprised at what the Arkansas History Commission has available on
film! If you are looking for a man, check for a will record or probate record.
You should find him there if he owned property in the state. Don't forget to
check some of the more obscure records. For example, was your ancestor a Mason?
Were they members of a church? Did someone in the area write a journal or
diary? All of those records maybe available at AHC and you might find your date this
way. Also, don't forget to ask all those 2nd and 3rd cousin if they might have the
date in their family bible and while you at it don't forget to ask if they have any
pictures!" Courtesy of Tracey Converse. Posted 15 Aug 1998, AGS RootsWeb list

"Daughters of the American Revolution, as a State Regent's Project,
published in 1986 an "Index to Wills and Administrations of Arkansas From the
Earliest to1900." The material was collected from courthouses by counties, and
is arranged by counties in the book. Most lists are alphabetized however, the volume is
NOT indexed. You may have narrowed your search to a single county, or two or three at the
most, and then your search will go pretty fast. Those listed in this book died after
having written wills. Many MORE people died without leaving wills. We say they died
intestate, that is without a testament, which is the old legal word for will. For records
of those deaths, you will need to search PROBATE records at the appropriate courthouse; on
microfilm at the Arkansas History Commission & State Archives; or at the nearest
branch Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Courtesy
of Ed Sanders. Posted 15 Aug 1998 AGS RootsWeb list

Index to wills and administrations of Arkansas, from the
earliest to 1900 complied and edited by Mrs. James Harold Stevenson and Mrs. Edward
Lynn Westbrooke.Jonesboro, AR. Vowels Printing Co., c1986

Delayed Certificate of Birth
In 1942 the state of Arkansas began issuing delayed certificate of birth
to people who had been born before 1914. These delayed birth certificates are currently
being indexed by members of The Arkansas Genealogical Society at the Department of Health,
Division of Vital Records. AGS will be allowed to publish indexes to the birth
certificates filed in 1942 that the person is more than 100 years old and the index will
be ready by the end of 2000.

If they every drew social security i.e. if worked after 1935 they may have a delayed birth
certificate as they had to have a birth certificate to give to SS to get a SS number. When
and if you request the birth certificate, make sure the Arkansas Department of Health
Division of Vital Records understand you are looking for a delayed birth certificate. The
delayed birth certificates are filed by the year the person applied for
the birth certificate. When you send in your request make sure you ask for a search of 10
years before and after the application date. If the wife received a pension or SS from her
spouse she would need a birth certificate for proof. Sometimes delayed birth certificates
are found in courthouses, Polk County, County Clerks Office has a few, with attached
affidavits from family members that state that the information on the application is true
(They had someone to testify to the facts of their birth.) The affidavits can provide
additional clues to the family history.

Most have the application, the order, and two forms of proof The name of the
father and maiden name of the mother are given, as well as address, dates, and in some
cases other information. In order to prove your date of birth you had to fill out the form
provided by the Arkansas Bureau of Vital Statistics and pay a fee of $1. The
green form was used by attending physician, midwife, parent or person at least
twelve years older other than one wishing the certificate and having actual knowledge of
the birth. The maiden name of the female applicant must be used. If a
signature was by mark (X) it must be endorsed by two witnesses.

The white form was used if the form was signed by the registrant or applicant. The
evidence used to establish facts of birth and place are: Bible record, insurance policy,
marriage license, hospital or school record, U.S. census record, war ration book No.1,
birth certificate of your child, baptismal record, or any other legal papers at least five
years old, which indicates the individual's age at the time the document was issued, or
his or her date of birth. At least one of the documents submitted as proof of birth
must indicate the subject was born in Arkansas. There are also delayed death certificates
at the Bureau of Vital Statistics pre 1940. Many people who died before 1940s will
not have a death certificate. Check the Arkansas Death Index. Delayed birth
certificates from Oklahoma are available from their Division of Vital Statistics, four
type of supporting records were necessary.